How About Some Jelly for That? (Matthew 16:5-12)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 16:5-12
When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

COMMENT

Jesus spoke to the disciples, and in trying to interpret what Jesus was saying, they looked at what was going on around themselves. Jesus told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They immediately came to the conclusion He was getting on them for not bringing any bread. What? How does that become their thinking, after all that they had just witnessed? Well, maybe it was because they are human, and that is how we think. It is why Jesus calls us sheep. And we are sheep, the not so brightest of the animal kingdom. The animal that if it falls into a hole, does not have the sense to step out of it. But we think we are so smart. We think God owes us so much. We willingly follow those who misinterpret Scripture to confirm this to us.

No bread. Really? After all the time you have listened to me and all the miracles you have observed? Did you not notice that in the feedings of the multitudes, we had more left overs than we started with? No bread?

Then they reconsidered. Then they thought clearer. It wasn't about bread, but the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

We would do so well to hear this message today. today, when we have Osteen telling us that God wants us to have our best life now. Batterson telling us to pray in circles. Furtick, T. D. Jakes, Meyer, and so many others preaching what itching ears want to hear. Preaching to sheep.Preaching law, obedience, sacrifice. While these things are not bad in themselves, they are useless without mercy. And mercy does not happen if we do not see a God who is merciful. Not a god who is weak and wants everything to work out, but a God who is powerful, in charge, and will have His way in every situation, good and bad. The kind of God who Paul and Silas sang to in prison. Not the kind of god who reprimands you cause now He can't have toast.